Portable folding head rest



March 22, 1966 P. c. ESCOBAR 3,241,160

PORTABLE FOLDING HEAD REST Filed June 20, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

TRNEYS.

March 22, 1966 P. c. ESCOBAR 3,241,160

PORTABLE FOLDING HEAD REST Filed June 20, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w, INVENTOR. 44' se' 92 90 18 a/0 (225W scoar 579.5. WW? TTRN .5

United States Patent O 3,241,160 PORTABLE FOLDING HEAD REST Pablo Cesar Escobar, 34-31 92nd St., Jackson Heights 72, N.Y. Filed June 20, 1963, Ser. No. 289,182 3 Claims. (Cl. 5'-327) This invention relates generally to head rests and more particularly to a portable folding head rest.

People often desire to relax and lie down on the beach, lawn and on the grass at picnics and it is more cornfortable if the head is supported above the ground level, where the head is protected from sand, dirt, grass and the like, and if the head is protected from the sun.

It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide a portable head rest that is suitable for beaches, lawns and countryside.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable head rest that supports the head above the ground level and shields the head from the rays of the sun.

A further object of the invention is to provide a folding head rest with a canopy which will protect the head and face of the person during use.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a folding head rest and sun canopy which can be readily opened and closed for use and storage purposes in a simple .and convenient manner, which is extremely durable and which is substantially light in weight.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a folding head rest and sunshade canopy for use by children and adults alike, that can be manufactured in large quantities at a relatively low cost.

It is also proposed, according to a modification of the invention, to provide a head rest combined with a beach blanket for protecting the body of the person during use.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the :appended claims in which the various novel features -of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a folding head rest embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of one side thereof, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 4 showing the parts in folded condition, on a reduced scale.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of a combined head rest and beach blanket.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the combined head rest and blanket in partly folded and collapsed condition.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, a folding head rest assembly made in accordance with the invention is shown in FIG. 1 and designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The head rest assembly 1i) includes a head support portion having a frame formed by a pair of U-shaped tubular metal supporting members 12, 12, overlapped at their attened ends 14, and pivotally connected thereat by threaded bolts 18 with wing nuts 20. A pair of tubular metal rods 22 is pivoftally mounted on the bolts 18 midway their ends between the inner heads 24 of the bolts and the overlapped ends of the U-shaped members.

3,241,160 Patented Mar. 22, 1966 A web 26 preferably of flexible fabric type material, such as canvas, is provided with tubular sleeves 28 at each end through which the tubular members 22 extend. This web 26 provides a com-fortable support for the head of the user, the weight of which is carried by the U- shaped members 22. The wing nuts 20 maintain the U-shaped members 22 in properly spaced apart relationship under the weight of the head and to p-revent further spreading of the frame members beyond the desired open position.

A canopy indicated generally `at 29 is pivotally supported upon the head rest assembly. The canopy cornprises a pair of arcuate-shaped tubular metal members 3i), 30, li-attened and perforated at their free ends 32, 32 and pivotally mounted on the bolts 18 between the wing nuts 20 and the overlapped ends of the U-shaped members 22, 22. A web 34 formed of material similar to the web 26 is supported by the arcuate-shapedmembers 30, 30. Web 34 is oval in plan and is formed with tubular sleeve members 36, 36 along the long peripheries thereof. The sleeve members 36, 36 are slipped over the arcuate-shaped members 30, 30. V-shaped strips 38 of material similar to the web 34 are secured to the inner surface o-f the web adjacent the connections between the arcuate-shaped members 22, the side edges of the strips being secured thereto by stitching 40, with the wide edges thereof being unattached thereby providing pockets 42 for holding small items during use of the head rest.

A strap 44 is preferably extended between the bight portions 46 of the U-shaped members 12, 12, midway the ends thereof to limit outward swing or opening movement of the U-shaped members. The strap has a male snap button element 5t) adjacent one end thereof and a female snap button element 52 inwardly of the male button element 50 for coaction therewith to form a loop 58 whereby the end of the strap encircles a. bight portion 46 of one of the U-shaped members 12. A plurality of female snap fastener button elements 56 are fastened to the strap midway its ends for coaction with male snap fastener element 58 fastener to the strap adjacent its other end, whereby an enlongated loop70 is formed for encircling the other U-shaped member 12.` The strap may be lengthened or shortened to adjust the distance between the bight portions 46 of the U-shaped supporting members 12.

Referring now to the modification of the invention shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, inclusive, herein the head rest 10 is shown combined with a blanket 72 for protection of the body of the user from sand, grass :and the like.

The blanket 72 comprises an elongated rectangularshaped body 74 formed -of suitable blanket material suc-l1 as cotton fabric. The body is divided by transverse lines of stitching 76 constituting fold lines, into four sections 78, 80, 82, 84. A flap 86 is lformed along the end edge of section 78 for connecting the blanket to the headfrest 10 by encircling the flap around the bight portion 46 of one of the supporting members 12 and fastening the fiap around bight portion 46 by snap fastener elements 88 on the ap 'and body of the blanket, respectively. U-shaped fabric handles 92, 92 are stitched to the center of the end sections 78 and 84 for carrying the assembly. Theend section 84 is also provided with a series of spaced female snap fastener elements 90 extending lengthwise of the blanket body for cooperation with the male fastener elements 58' carried by the strap 44', FIG. 8.

Interlocking slide fastener elements 91 and 93 are mounted on the side edges of the end sections 78 and 84, respectively, and slide members 94 are slidably supported on the side edges of end section 84. A fabric body is stitched at its ends along the line of stitching between the sections 89 and 82, forming a loop 96.

In using the combined head rest and blanket, the head rest assembly is unfolded and its supporting members 12', 12 positioned on the supporting surface such as the beach, ground or the like, and blanket body 74 is unfolded and stretched atwise over the supporting surface ready for use.

The supporting members 12', 12 are connected by the strap 44 by means of male and female snap fastener elements 56,' and 58 on one surface of the strap. The flap 84 is formed with a cutaway portion 85 to permit the strap 44' to pass to permit the strap to be positioned in either use position as shown in FIG. 7 or FIG. 9.

For carrying and storage, the head rest assembly is folded or collapsed and swung inwardly over and against the surface of section 78 of the blanket body. The blanket body is folded along the fold lines and the strap 44' is inserted through the loop 96 and the snap fastener elements 58 snapped over the snap fastener elements 90 on the endsection 84. The slide fastener elements 91 and 93 will then be in interlocking relation and the slide members 94 moved thereover to hold said elements in interlocked relation. The head rest assembly is housed among the folds of the blanket body and the combined head rest assembly and blanket is ready for storage or may be carried by means of the handles 92.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that Various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1. A device of the kind described comprising, in combination, a head rest assembly including pivotally connected U-shaped supporting members, a head rest pivotally supported on said supporting members, a sun canopy pivotally supported on said supporting members and an elongate sectional and foldable blanket removably connected to one of said U-shaped supporting members, said removable connection including an elongated ap on one end edge of the blanket encircling said one of said U- shaped members and snap fastener elements fastening the end o-f the flap to the body of the blanket, and a loop fastened to the center of the blanket between adjacent sections midway the ends of the blanket, snap fastener elements on one of the end sections of the blanket, a strap extending across the bight portions of the U-shaped supporting members, midway the ends thereof, and being engaged and secured to said bight portions to limit outward movement of said U-shaped supporting members, said strap having snap fastener elements therealong, said strap adapted to extend through said loop with its snap fastener elements snapped over the fastener elements on the end section of the blanket to hold the blanket in folded condition.

2. A device of the kind described comprising, in combination, a head rest assembly including pivotally connected U-shaped supporting members, a head rest pivotally supported on said supporting members, a sun canopy pivotally supported on said supporting members and an elongated sectional and foldable blanket removably connected to one of said U-shaped supporting members, said removable connection including an elongated flap on one end edge of the blanket encircling said one of said U- shaped members :and snap fastened elements fastening the end of the ap to the body of the blanket, a loop fastened to the center of the blanket between adjacent sections midway the ends of the blanket, snap fastener elements on one of the end sections of the blanket, a strap extending across the bight portions of the U-shaped supporting members midway the ends thereof for limiting outward movement of said U-shaped supporting members engaging and being secured tosaid bight portions, said strap having snap fastener elements therealong, said strap adapted to extend through said loop with its snap fastener elements snapped over the fastener elements on the end section of the blanket to hold the blanket in folded condition, interlocking slide fastener elements on the side edges of the end sections of the blanket, and a slide carried by one of said end sections coacting with the slide `fastener elements to hold said slide fastener elements in interlocked condition.

3. A device of the kind described comprising, in combination, a head rest assembly including pivotally connected U-shaped supporting members, a head rest pivotally supported on said supporting members, a sun canopy pivotally supported on said supporting members and an elongated sectional and foldable blanket removably connected to one of said U-shaped supporting members, said removable connection including an elongated ap on one end edge of the blanket encircling said one of said U- shaped members and snap fastener elements fastening the end of the flap to the body of the blanket, a loop fastened to the center of the blanket between adjacent sections midway the ends of the blanket, snap fastener element on one of the end sections of the blanket, a strap extending across the bight portions of the U-shaped supporting members midway the ends thereof for limiting outward movement of said U-shaped supporting members engaging and being secured to said bight portions, said strap having snap fastener elements therealong, said strap adapted to extend through said loop with its snap fastener elements snapped over the fastener elements on the end section of the blanket to hold the blanket in folded condition, interlocking slide fastener elements on the side edges of the end sections of the blanket, and a slide carried by one of said end sections coacting with the slide fastener elements to hold said slide fastener elements in interlocked condition, said head rest assembly adapted to be collapsed and housed in the fold of the folded blanket, and handles on the ends of the blanket for carrying the head rest assembly and blanket in folded condition.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,685,599 9/ 1928 Fletcher 297-25 2,266,853 12/ 1941 Dabney 135-5 2,315,126 3/1943 Michalke 5-344 2,543,597 2/ 1951 Peery 5-344 X 2,870,464 1/ 1959 Lalick 5-344 X 3,007,735 ll/1961 Cohn -5 FOREIGN PATENTS 645,192 5/ 1937 Germany. 707,953 4/1954 Great Britain.

FRANK B, SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE OF THE KIND DESCRIBED COMPRISNG, IN COMBINATION, A HEAD REST ASSEMBLY INCLUDING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED U-SHAPED SUPPORTING MEMBERS, A HEAD REST PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED ON SAID SUPPORTING MEMBERS, A SUN CANOPY PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED ON SAID SUPPORTING MEMBERS AND AN ELONGATED SECTIONAL AND FOLDABLE BLANKET REMOVABLY CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID U-SHAPED SUPPORTING MEMBERS, SAID REMOVABLE CONNECTION INCLUDING AN ELONGATED FLAP ON ONE END EDGE OF THE BLANKET ENCIRCLING SAID ONE OF SAID USHAPED MEMBERS AND SNAP FASTENER ELEMENTS FASTENING THE END OF THE FLAP TO THE BODY OF THE BLANKET, AND A LOOP FASTENED TO THE CENTER OF THE BLANKET BETWEEN ADJACENT SECTIONS MIDWAY THE ENDS OF THE BLANKET, SNAP 